Saab to Debut First SUV

The Daily Auto Insider: Saab said in a news release that its first sport-utility vehicle, the 2005 Saab 9-7X, will make its world debut at the 2004 New York Auto Show in April 2004, and will go on sale about one year later.

Saab said in a news release that its first sport-utility vehicle, the 2005 , will make its world debut at the 2004 New York Auto Show in April 2004, and will go on sale about one year later.

The 5-door SUV has a wheelbase of 99.4 inches and an overall length of 175.6 inches. A 60/40-split fold-down rear seatback is standard. The 9-7X has 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the seatback up, and 61.6 cubic feet with the seatback folded down.

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The SUV will mark Saab's first product collaboration with parent company, General Motors. It will be built at GM's Moraine Assembly Plant in Ohio beginning in the first quarter of 2005. Saab said it eventually hopes to sell 10,000 to 15,000 of the SUVs annually in North America. The automaker hasn't disclosed pricing.

Mitsubishi and Chrysler to Make Pickup Truck

Mitsubishi plans to sell a pickup truck to be jointly built with Chrysler, which owns a stake in the Japanese automaker, in 2005. The Associated Press reported.

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Mitsubishi's version will use the platform of the next-generation , but will have a distinct design, the story said.

The trucks will be built at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly Plant near Detroit, where the mid-size Dodge Dakota pickup and full-size Dodge Ram are made.

Chrysler, whose German-American parent owns 37 percent of Mitsubishi Motors, will begin production of its next-generation Dakota next year. Mitsubishi plans to introduce its new truck in 2005.

Mitsubishi's last pickup in North America was the compact Mighty Max, in 1997. Mitsubishi has yet to release the name, price or estimated volume for the new truck, the story said.

Chrysler to Increase Truck Production

Chrysler may invest up to $2.1 billion under a tentative labor agreement to build two additional types of vehicles at its Jeep assembly in Toledo, Ohio, the Associated Press reported.

The investments would be for tooling to build a redesigned Jeep Wrangler and Liberty and two other vehicles not yet identified, along with some factory improvements, the story said.

A Chrysler spokesman said the company would not discuss an agreement until workers ratify it. A vote on the eight-year contract is expected soon.

Ford's New F-150 Pickup Speeds Company Rebound

The introduction of Ford's all-new pickup truck is helping to accelerate the company's financial turnaround faster than planned, The Detroit News reported, citing an internal memo.

Ford originally forecast that most 2004 F-150 buyers would opt for the XLT model, which starts at $30,085. But many customers are shelling out more than $5,000 more for the better-equipped Lariat model, the story said.

Ford's F-Series' share of the industry is up 0.3 points since August. Meanwhile, Ford's overall market share declined this year compared with last. Chevrolet's share, however, has risen steadily since the end of 2000.